There isn’t a team in the NBA that would not want Kevin Durant becoming the next face of its franchise, but there are likely only a handful outside of Oklahoma City with a legitimate chance at signing the soon-to-be free agent. The Houston Rockets believe they are one of those teams, and they plan to do everything they can to prove it.
According to Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are already preparing to “do everything they reasonably can” to make a run at Durant this summer. Houston isn’t scheduled to have enough salary cap space to sign Durant, but they would find a way to create it if K.D. was interested in the Lone Star State.
How? There are plenty of ways. For starters, Ty Lawson’s $13.2 million salary for next season is not guaranteed, so the Rockets could clear that money simply by waiving him. They could also choose to keep Lawson — if Durant wanted to play with him — and figure out how to trade anyone else on their roster not named James Harden or Dwight Howard.
Howard’s contract situation also aligns nicely, as he has a $23.2 million player option for 2016-2017 and Houston holds his Bird rights. The Rockets could have Howard decline the option, which would allow them to exceed the salary cap in signing him to a long-term extension.
In other words, money won’t be the issue. Talent shouldn’t be, either. Durant played with Harden and already knows what he can do. Having a core that includes Durant, Harden and Howard would almost certainly give Houston the nucleus it needs to compete with teams like the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
Of course, Durant has already been emphatic in stating that he wants to remain with the Thunder, and there is plenty of reason to believe he will. He also could decide to return to the place where he grew up, and one report indicates K.D. wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Oh, and what about that awkward exchange Durant had with Howard during a game last season? I’m sure the two could forget about that pretty quickly if it meant building a championship-caliber squad.
